Electric water heater



Jan. 11 1927. l 1,613,714

A. MARTIN ELEGTRI C WATER HEATER Filed Sept. 27, 1.923 2 Sheets-*Shee lJan. 11-, 1927. 11,613,714

A. MARTIN ELECTRIC WATER HEATER Filed Sept 27, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EZ-g. 44, ...Mm l5', 37 #e /fz 573837 y lf3 l o #o 8 y 40 #o 3 ZI 1 y ZI dINV /vraR www Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALPHONSE MARTIN, OF OGDENBURG, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF FIFTY-ONE ONE-HUNDREDTHS TO MAX KATZIVLAN,Y 0F OGDENSBURG, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC WATER HEATER.

Application filed September 27, 1923.

This invention relates to an electric water heater of the class setiorth in my Patent No. 1,474,638, November Q0, 1923, in that theelectrodes are supported within a suitable container for direct contactwith the water therein for the purpose ot maintaining a limited supplyof hot water to be used when desired.

One of the specific differences of my present invention over that. Shownin my patent referred to, is that the thermo-electric means actuated byvarying temperatures of the liquid in the container for controlling thetemperature of said liquid involves the use of a flat thermostatic barnormally in direct Contact with the periphery of the liquid-containingshell for the purpose of increasing its sensitivity to the varyingtemperatures of the liquid and thereby establishing a closer regulationoi said temperature by its action upon the separate electric switchcontrolling the heating circuit.

This invention is further differentiated from the devices shown in theapplication referred to in that they liquid containing shell issurrounded and inclosed by a protective shell and a jacket ot suitablematerial such as asbestos having a low degree of heat conductivity forthe purpose of expediting the heating of the water and greatly reducingthe radiation of heat therefrom, to the outer shell or case.

Another specific difference consists in bringing the terminals of theswitch into convenient relation for the reception oit' an insulator capadapted to embrace both sets of terminals when adjusted for use andcapable of removal to disconnect the heating circuit from the switch andelectrodes when desired.

The object of these specific differences `nointed out is to increase theefficiency of the levice as a whole, by expediting the heating of thewater in the container and by close regulation ot the temperaturethereof.

Other objectsI and uses relating to specific part-s of the device willbe brought out in the following description.

1n the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan ot an electric water heater embodying the variousfeatures of this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation taken on line2 2, Figure 1.

Serial No. 665,168.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view partly in top plan taken in theplane ot' line 8 3, Figure 2.

Figures i and 5 are vertical sectional views taken respectively on linesst, and 5 5, Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an inverted horizontal sectional view taken in the plane ofline 6 6, Figure 4.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail horizontal sectional view taken on line 77, Figure 5.

As illustrated, this device comprises an inner upright cylindrical watercontaining shell 1 an `outer cylindrical shell or casing Q having themajor portion thereof concentric with and in spacedrelation to the innershell for receiving a jacket 3 of asbestos or equivalent heat insulatingmaterial having a relatively low degree of heat conductivity for thepurpose ot expediting the heating of the liquid in the container 1 andretaining said heat against excessive radiation, to the outer shell.

The inner receptacle 1 is provided with lower and upper end heads 4 and5 forming liquid tight joints with the main cylindrical body, the lowerhead being provided with a central downwardly projecting nipple 6adapted to be connected to any suitable water supply pipe P or to awater faucet F and is provided with a relatively small inlet 1 leadingto the interior of the container 1 for supplying water thereto from thebottom upwardly.

The upper head 5 is provided at one side of its center, with an upwardlyand laterally projecting outlet nozzle 8 having tight screw connectiontherewith for discharging the water or other liquid which may beadmitted to the interior of the container 1 after passing from thebottom to the top thereof.

The upper head is also provided with a central bushing 9- secured in acorresponding opening therein to form a water tight joint therewith andalso serving as a support for a pair of electrode supporting bars 10whereby the bushing with the bars 10 and electrodes thereon, may be madeup as a unit and placed in operative position within the container orwithdrawn therefrom as may be desired 'for repairs or other adjustments.

The upper ends of the bars 10 are extended through and seine uistanceabove the bushing 9w to torni terminals Mlltor the electrodes, theportions ot the rods 10- extendingthrough the hushi being insulated'theretroin b5.' aula ings -12-, which also serve to ii bars 10 onetroni the other.

That is, the bars -lO- clainped at their upper ends to 'j -9- inparallel spaced relatif. d i provided at their lower ends withextenisens -13- preferablyv of tit-shaped l and secured in parallelspaced relation to the. bars -10- by clamping screws l" d said bars andtheir exten ns -`lbeine' made of electric condnc niaterial ay whenassembled, extend .trein the upper head -5- to points in proxiinitff tothe gap which the electric current mayv pass when the electrodes areenergized. the clips or" each pair being secured by rivets iT- to theirrespective extensions -lfet the hars 10 to hold theni in iixed spacedrelation lation to torni an intervening;-

transversely7 ot said extensions.

That is, one end ot each clip iS upwardlyT and seated in the lene't nelor" the corresponding' este i n where it is held in place bjr the vets ii and by the lengthwise flanges e sions as shown more clearl.Y

ingand therebv serving` to hold the corresponding' electrodes in axialalinen'ient.

rllhe portions ot the clips which en;4` electrodes are preferably'vinade in the of open loops with their open si tcp and their outer endssin" A inwardly to permit the electrodes to he removed by upwarddisplaceiiient when desired, while the tension ot the loops serve totrictionallj7 hold the electrodes in operative position.

The portions et the bars *10 and e'- tensions l3- at their junctions.one with the other are braced against relative lateral niovenient bv abrace hai' iSvo insulating' inaterial held in place bv the clanipinf;bolts 14- and together with the bushing 9 serve to hold the bars andtheir e3:- tensions -l3- in parallel spaced relation throughout theirlengths and is ot sul'licient distance apart to insulate them one tronithe other, except as the current passes through electrodes ot each pairand across the 'o torni annular flanges ll-- eage the adjacent edges oithe corl' clips to hold said electrodes in paced relation againstcontacting i i each other and therebgv to assure the desired interveningair gaps.

The opposite ends et the outer casing beyond the corresponding endprovided with caps -l9 and QU- ed to the inner end heads bv screws l toorni intervening spaces in which hea insulating* niaterial as 3%-i'hroueh the jacket E3-- to the peripher)v ot the inner shell -ltorreceiving an electric switch 23M and a tlieiniostatic bar Q2-1 5. andalso serving to receive a sup The edges oit the outer shell 2* tornitheupright side walls ot` the recess are provided with inturned lian;ralnitting against the periphery ot the inner shell to assist in holdingTsaid shells in concentric spaced relation and also serving' as guidestor the supplemental case ion -Q. l Qin insulator block is secured byscrews 2:3- to the outer tace of the upper end ot the inner shell-lwithin the recess 'tor receiving and supporting the electric switch 23having` a relatively lined. contact iiieinber -26- and a nio fablecontact ineinber -27-, the fixed ineinber being secured to the underside of the insulator block bv a bindinp` post or tei'- niinal -2S-,which extends through and saine distance above said insulator block totorni one ot the switch terminals 28.

The inovalele switch nieinbei' -2T- consists ot a vertice-.llivelongated sheet nieta] nar pre'l'einbltv ol, i-shaped cross section ezetr 'iding dewnwardly" troni the under side ot insulator lil-oel; andhaving` its. lower end pivoted at --29 to a vertical sini/porting' bai'-O- which is also prefernhl;Y niedc ot sheet inetal ot U-shaped crossand has upper end secured bv another bii'l ng' post or switch terminalto the under side ot' vthe insulator ble-ch siniilar to the binding postor terniinal 28 in that it extends through ot the outer case and somedistance above said insulator block parallel with the terminal -28- andin spaced relation thereto.

The switch terminals -28 and 28'- and electrode terminals -l1-arepreferably disposed in parallel vertical planes and project above theupper heads -5- and -20- of the inner and outer shells 1 and `Qf forconvenience of connection with an electric source ot supply in a mannerpresently described.

The movable switch member -27- is also provided with a light flatSpring- 31mengaging a relatively fixed member 3Q- on the upper end ofthe bar -30- for normally holding the movable switch member -27 inelectrical Contact with the switch member Q6- (See Figure 4.)

The thermostatic bar Q4- preferably consists of two pieces of flat metalof difterent temperature co-eiicients secured togther face to face andhaving their lower ends secured by screws to the outer face of the lowerend of the inner shell -1- within the recess -QQ- and their upper endslying in close proximity to the adjacent outer face of the inner watercontaining shell -1- and between said shell, and the lower end of themovable switch member -27- which is provided with an insulator button-34- adapted to be engaged by the upper end of the thermostatic bar -24-when the latter 1s deflected outwardly.

A plate w35- is secured by the screw -33- to the outer face of the lowerend ot thermostatic bar *M and carries an adjusting screw -36- by whichthe thermostatic bar Q4- may be adjusted to contact with the adjacentside of the water containing shell -1-.

This thermostatic bar -24 is arranged to normally press against theadjacent side of the shell -1- by its own tension under low temperaturesof the water contained in said shell and also to deflect outwardlyagainst the button 34- to open the normally closed switch 23 and therebyto break the heating circuit through the elec-- trodes when the water inthe container is heated to a predetermined degree.

Suitable devices are provided for connecting the electrode terminalswith the switch terminals and with a source of current supply and forthis purpose I have provided a chambered insulator block -37- having aremovable cap -38- to permit access to the chamber but normally held inplace by screws -39*.

This insulator block -37 constitutes a coupling member of sufficientlength to cover the electrode terminals and switch terminals and isprovided in its opposite ends with sockets open at the bottom andcontaining separate pairs of electric conducting sleeves or clips 110-and 4lfor sliding frictiolnal engagement with the electrode termina s.

One of the terminal clips -40- is electrically connected by a wire "4Q-to the corresponding switch terminal clip 4lwhile the other clips w40-and 4lare connected to lead wires -43- which in turn may be. providedwith the usual socket plug for connection with the electric circuit ofan ordinary incandescent lamp socket for supplying current to theelectrodes -15- through the medium of the switch -23-.

This mounting of the terminal clips -40- and 111- in the insulatorcoupling member .-38- permits the water heater to be easily and quicklyattached to or detached from any suitableelectric circuit commonly usedin residences and other places where the electric waterfheater might beof service.

rlhe supplemental casing -2- constitutes with the adjacent side of theinner shell -l-, a housing for the electric switch 23- and thermostaticbar E24- to protect the same against contact with external objects, butis removably held in place by frictional engagement with side walls Q4-of the recess 2Q- and also with the lower and upper heads -19- and -20-of the outer casing Q- Operation.

When it is desired to heat a quantity of water, equal to the capacity ofthe inner shell -1,- the faucet or valve -F in the supply pipe P- may beopened to allow the water to flow into the container -1- until thelatter is filled and begins to overflow through the open outlet -8 atwhich time, the valve is closed to cut oit the further supply of waterand to allow the heating of the water in the container by the currentpassing across the gaps between the several electrodes ot' each pair, itbeing understood that during this initial flow of the water into thecontainer, the electric switch Q3- will be closed and will remain closeduntil the temperature of the water in the container reaches a certaindegree determined by previous adjustment ot the thermostatic bar -24.

Then the water in the container is heated to the proper temperature, theheat thereof will be transmitted to the shell -1- and thence to thethermostatic bar Q4- causing the latter to deflect against the insulatorbutton 34- and thereby t0 open the switch Q3- against the action of itsretracting spring 3l- In case the hot water should not be usedimmediately and its temperature should drop below the predetermineddegree, the thermostatic bar -24- will be defiected away from the button-34- toward the shell -1- thereby permitting the switch M23* to againclose :tor supplying current to the electrodes -15- and reestahlishingthe desired temperature ot' the Water.

By placing the thermostatic bar m24.- tlatwise against the periphery otthe shell -lrenders said har more sensitive to slight variations intemperature ot the water and therehy establishes a close regulation andmaintenance ot' the desired temperature and assuring a limited supply ofhot Water at any time.

Itv is evident, however, that a continuous supply of hot Water could hemaintained in the container after the water passes therethrough byregulating the flow of the water to the container or by varying the sizeor number of the electrodes in the container' to receive a greateramount of currentV and therefore, I do not Wish to limit myself to theheating of a limited supply of Water at one time.

I claim:

In an electric water heater, a container for the water to he heatedhaving a heat insulating jacket open at one side from bottom to top, anelectric heater within the container having terminals extendingV throughthe top of the container7 otl an electric thermostat switch in saidopening,r having,- terminals at the top oi the container, and a couplingat the top of the container for connecting the heater terminals with theswitch terminals.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day ofSeptember, 1923.

ALPHONSE WAR-TIN.

